COUNCILLOR Vic D'Albert has warned Polefield residents to beware after a local family founded a drug-user's syringe in their back garden.

The father of the family, who have a young child, made the find in his garden which backs onto the Polefield Library site.

"The family do not want any publicity because they fear reprisals," said Coun D'Albert.

The Liberal Democrat member for Holyrood said the grim discovery made it clear that long-reported problems at the library were more serious than previously thought.

"This is not just a couple of cans of lager or a bit of boisterous behaviour," he pointed out. "This is hard evidence that drugs are being used in the area."

He fears problems will escalate when the library shuts to become a health centre.

"The family asked me to raise with the council the possibility of securing the back of the library premises to stop kids getting into the area," said Coun D'Albert.

He has done this and tried to raise the matter with local police - without much success.

"I rang the police and left a message on the answerphone," said Coun D'Albert. "They haven't rung back!"

Mr John Carter, head of library services at Bury Council, confirmed that syringes had been found at the site, and they had been removed by the council's syringe removal service.

"I have not had a specific request to increase security at Polefield, but when I do it will happen," he said yesterday.

The council's syringe removal service is on 253 6606.

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